Review: British Airways Club World Business Class, LAX-LHR

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After leaving the oneworld LAX lounge, I walked to the gate for boarding, which began about an hour prior to departure.

Boarding began quickly, and was fairly expeditious, with First, Club World and oneworld elites entering the aircraft first. I was on the upper deck, and took a separate escalator to the jet-bridge there.

The Club World cabin on British Airways is gorgeous, with low-tone lighting, and a very clean feel throughout. Combined with the traditional British Airways fanfare – the flower duet – you really feel as if you’re on a flight to the United Kingdom. The cabin is laid out in a staggered 2x3x2 layout, with seats alternating in different directions. I chose a window seat in order to see both the takeoff and touchdown, though it’s worth noting that these seats all face the rear, which is a little bit awkward when heading up the runway.

At each seat was a pillow, headphones and amenity kit. There’s ample storage for shoes in a slide-out compartment, as well as at-the-window bins.

About 10 minutes after entering the aircraft, I was offered a pre-departure beverage of champagne and given the menus for the ling flight ahead. I decided to preview the inflight entertainment screen as well, and found a variety of decent selections to watch. During boarding, I found the cabin crew to be very attentive, constantly coming around for offering of drinks and to help introduce passengers to the seat (which is fairly intuitive).

For the flight, I ordered:

• the Heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella plate
• fresh seasonal salad
• pan roasted filet of beef
• chocolate and caramel delice

Following boarding, which takes while since it’s such a large aircraft, the cabin doors were shut and the safety video played. Shortly after, we began our taxi to the runway for takeoff.

Once airborne, the service began, and I asked for a Diet Coke as well as a glass of the Rose wine. Beverage service was done out of a galley cart. Sitting in a window seat, you are directly facing the passenger in the aisle seat, though are separated by a moving screen (which must be down for take off and landing). I’m not a fan of this layout, though many enjoy it.

The food was rather tasty, and I enjoyed everything that was offered.

Following dinner service, which took longer than usual due to some heavy turbulence, I watched a few TV shows on the inflight entertainment, before reclining my seat into a fully flat bed.

I find British Airway’s seat to be one of the most comfortable in the sky, and it’s easy to bring the seat up into a seated position quickly should you need to. To get up in the middle of the night and use the restroom, you need to walk forward and then step over the person’s legs who are seated a row in front of you. It’s not too much trouble, but it’s not exactly direct aisle access either. If you choose a bulkhead seat, you shouldn’t have this problem since no one will be seated in front of you.

An hour and a half before landing a continental breakfast with tea and coffee service was offered. I was hoping for a hot breakfast, however you can receive such a meal in the Galleries lounge upon arrival if you wish.

After breakfast service, and everything was stowed, the cabin was prepared for landing into a foggy London Heathrow.

My Take

I really like British Airways service, and the cabin crew on this flight were very well to serve passengers and continually check up. While the food was nothing to write home about and unmemorable, it was decent for what it was. My biggest gripe is the seat position in facing your neighbor, though really enjoy the comfort of the flat bed once reclined and the privacy it provides once the privacy screen is raised. Overall, a very good flight, and I’d be happy to fly British Airways again and again.